It is impossible to tell you how happy your last letter made

us, for the news was so good we couldn't help laughing and crying

over it. How very kind Mr. Brooke is, and how fortunate that Mr.

Laurence's business detains him near you so long, since he is so

useful to you and Father. The girls are all as good as gold. Jo

helps me with the sewing, and insists on doing all sorts of hard

jobs. I should be afraid she might overdo, if I didn't know her

'moral fit' wouldn't last long. Beth is as regular about her tasks

as a clock, and never forgets what you told her. She grieves about

Father, and looks sober except when she is at her little piano. Amy

minds me nicely, and I take great care of her. She does her own

hair, and I am teaching her to make buttonholes and mend her stockings.

She tries very hard, and I know you will be pleased with her

Improvement when you come. Mr. Laurence watches over us like a

motherly old hen, as Jo says, and Laurie is very kind and neighborly.

He and Jo keep us merry, for we get pretty blue sometimes, and feel

like orphans, with you so far away. Hannah is a perfect saint. She

does not scold at all, and always calls me Miss Margaret, which is

quite proper, you know, and treats me with respect. We are all

well and busy, but we long, day and night, to have you back. Give

my dearest love to Father, and believe me, ever your own . . .

MEG

This note, prettily written on scented paper, was a great

contrast to the next, which was scribbled on a big sheet of thin

foreign paper, ornamented with blots and all manner of flourishes

and curly-tailed letters.

My precious Marmee:

Three cheers for dear Father! Brooke was a trump to telegraph

right off, and let us know the minute he was better. I rushed up

garret when the letter came, and tried to thank god for being so

good to us, but I could only cry, and say, "I'm glad! I'm glad!"

Didn't that do as well as a regular prayer? For I felt a great

many in my heart. We have such funny times, and now I can enjoy

them, for everyone is so desperately good, it's like living in a

nest of turtledoves. You'd laugh to see Meg head the table and

try to be motherish. She gets prettier every day, and I'm in love

with her sometimes. The children are regular archangels, and I--

well, I'm Jo, and never shall be anything else. Oh, I must tell

you that I came near having a quarrel with Laurie. I freed my mind

about a silly little thing, and he was offended. I was right, but

didn't speak as I ought, and he marched home, saying he wouldn't

come again till I begged pardon. I declared I wouldn't and got mad.

It lasted all day. I felt bad and wanted you very much. Laurie and

I are both so proud, it's hard to beg pardon. But I thought he'd

come to it, for I was in the right. He didn't come, and just at

night I remembered what you said when Amy fell into the river. I

read my little book, felt better, resolved not to let the sun set

on my anger, and ran over to tell Laurie I was sorry. I met him

at the gate, coming for the same thing. We both laughed, begged

each other's pardon, and felt all good and comfortable again.

I made a 'pome' yesterday, when I was helping Hannah wash,

and as Father likes my silly little things, I put it in to amuse

him. Give him my lovingest hug that ever was, and kiss yourself

a dozen times for your . . .

TOPSY-TURVY JO

A SONG FROM THE SUDS

Queen of my tub, I merrily sing,

While the white foam rises high,

And sturdily wash and rinse and wring,

And fasten the clothes to dry.

Then out in the free fresh air they swing,

Under the sunny sky.

I wish we could wash from our hearts and souls

The stains of the week away,

And let water and air by their magic make

Ourselves as pure as they.

Then on the earth there would be indeed,

A glorious washing day!

Along the path of a useful life,

Will heartsease ever bloom.

The busy mind has no time to think

Of sorrow or care or gloom.

And anxious thoughts may be swept away,

As we bravely wield a broom.

I am glad a task to me is given,

To labor at day by day,

For it brings me health and strength and hope,

And I cheerfully learn to say,

"Head, you may think, Heart, you may feel,

But, Hand, you shall work alway!"

Dear Mother,

There is only room for me to send my love, and some pressed

pansies from the root I have been keeping safe in the house for

Father to see. I read every morning, try to be good all day, and

sing myself to sleep with Father's tune. I can't sing 'LAND OF

THE LEAL' now, it makes me cry. Everyone is very kind, and we are

as happy as we can be without you. Amy wants the rest of the page,

so I must stop. I didn't forget to cover the holders, and I wind

the clock and air the rooms every day.

Kiss dear Father on the cheek he calls mine. Oh, do come soon

to your loving . . .

LITTLE BETH

Ma Chere Mamma,

We are all well I do my lessons always and never corroberate

the girls--Meg says I mean contradick so I put in both words and

you can take the properest. Meg is a great comfort to me and lets

me have jelly every night at tea its so good for me Jo says because

it keeps me sweet tempered. Laurie is not as respeckful as he ought

to be now I am almost in my teens, he calls me Chick and hurts my

feelings by talking French to me very fast when I say Merci or Bon

jour as Hattie King does. The sleeves of my blue dress were all

worn out, and Meg put in new ones, but the full front came wrong

and they are more blue than the dress. I felt bad but did not fret

I bear my troubles well but I do wish Hannah would put more starch

in my aprons and have buckwheats every day. Can't she? Didn't I

make that interrigation point nice? Meg says my punchtuation and

spelling are disgraceful and I am mortyfied but dear me I have so

many things to do, I can't stop. Adieu, I send heaps of love to

Papa. Your affectionate daughter . . .

AMY CURTIS MARCH

Dear Mis March,

I jes drop a line to say we git on fust rate. The girls is

clever and fly round right smart. Miss Meg is going to make a

proper good housekeeper. She hes the liking for it, and gits the

hang of things surprisin quick. Jo doos beat all for goin ahead,

but she don't stop to cal'k'late fust, and you never know where

she's like to bring up. She done out a tub of clothes on Monday,

but she starched 'em afore they was wrenched, and blued a pink

calico dress till I thought I should a died a laughin. Beth is the

best of little creeters, and a sight of help to me, bein so

forehanded and dependable. She tries to learn everything, and really

goes to market beyond her years, likewise keeps accounts, with my

help, quite wonderful. We have got on very economical so fur. I

don't let the girls hev coffee only once a week, accordin to your

wish, and keep em on plain wholesome vittles. Amy does well

without frettin, wearin her best clothes and eatin sweet stuff.

Mr. Laurie is as full of didoes as usual, and turns the house upside

down frequent, but he heartens the girls, so I let em hev full

swing. The old gentleman sends heaps of things, and is rather

wearin, but means wal, and it aint my place to say nothin. My

bread is riz, so no more at this time. I send my duty to Mr.

March, and hope he's seen the last of his Pewmonia.

Yours respectful,

Hannah Mullet

Head Nurse of Ward No. 2,

All serene on the Rappahannock, troops in fine condition,

commisary department well conducted, the Home Guard under Colonel

Teddy always on duty, Commander in Chief General Laurence reviews

the army daily, Quartermaster Mullet keeps order in camp, and Major

Lion does picket duty at night. A salute of twenty-four guns was

fired on reciept of good news from Washington, and a dress parade

took place at headquarters. Commander in chief sends best wishes,